Hate crime: An imminent warning

Levels of hate crime in England and Wales have been rising significantly over the past year.

In the meantime, political instabilities on the continent have shattered relations between EU nations like never before. The refugee crisis and fears of terrorism could feed an intolerant and dangerous behaviour that should not be underestimated.

Hate crime is defined as an act in which hostility towards a disability, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or sexual orientation is expressed.

The total number of hate crimes recorded by police forces in England and Wales rose by 18 per cent between April 2014 and March 2015. The most prominent increase is seen in the category of religious hate crime that saw a worrying upheaval of 43 per cent.